Bexhill Utd were dumped out of the Isuzu FA Vase at the first hurdle on Saturday afternoon, on the wrong end of 4-1 score line against Guernsey at Hastings Utd’s Pilot Field ground.

The game had been brought forward to a 2pm kick off to allow the visitors to make it back to Gatwick and onwards to the Channel Islands. Whether the early start had caught the Pirates off guard is debatable but they were certainly not switched on from the start with the visitors taking the lead inside 20 seconds.

That wake up call was an understatement but from that point Bexhill were the better side although Guernsey always provided a threat in the opening 45 minutes. Kyle Holden in midfield chased and harried across the vast Pilot Field all afternoon.

Curran and Shonk worked well together in the final third and it was no surprise when the latter picked up a ball from a free kick and finished in style to bring the Pirates level.

For the remainder of the half Bexhill were on the front foot and it was only some excellent work from the visiting keeper that denied the Pirates a half time lead that on balance would have been deserved.

A few minutes into the second half that failure to take the lead came back to haunt Bexhill as a shambolic episode at the back opened the door for Guernsey to re-take the lead. It was a moment in the game that proved pivotal as the hosts struggled to come from behind a second time.

On 70 minutes Stef Akras produced a stunning save from a long range effort to keep Bexhill in the game but another blunder gift wrapped a chance that Guernsey weren’t going to spurn and didn’t.

A fourth goal towards the end of the game maybe flattered the score line a touch but the visitors ran out worthy winners and onto a home tie with Croydon in the next round.

Bexhill certainly weren’t firing on all cylinders but for most of the first half they showed glimpses of the sharp attacking play that has been their hallmark of the team’s early strong form in the league.

The games keep coming thick and fast and an opportunity to put that result to bed comes when they host Seaford Town at Eastbourne Town’s Saffrons Ground on Bank Holiday Monday(ko 11am).

Courtesy of Geoff Martin.